It was a very still night, and the boy heard
the smash and shouting, and knew something had happened. He couldn't tell
what it was, but the minute he heard it he sent a message over the wires
like a flash, and caught the eastern express just as it was pulling out of
the station above Hinksville. If he'd hesitated a second, or made any
mistake, the express would have come on, and the loss of life would have
been fearful. The next day the Hinksville papers were full of Operator
Glenn's presence of mind; they all said he'd be promoted. That was early
in November and Joe didn't hear anything from the company till the first
of January. Meanwhile the boy had gone home to his father's farm out in
the country, and before Christmas he was dead. Well, on New Year's day Joe
got a notice from the company saying that his pay was to be raised, and
that he was to be promoted to a big junction near Detroit, in recognition
of his presence of mind in stopping the eastern express. It was just what
we'd both been pining for and I was nearly wild with joy; but I noticed
Joe didn't say much. He just telegraphed for leave, and the next day he
went right up to Detroit and told the directors there what had really
happened. When he came back he told us they'd suspended him; I cried every
night for a week, and even his mother said he was a fool. After that we
just lived on at Hinksville, and six months later the company took him
back; but I don't suppose they'll ever promote him now.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181